Human Rights Organisation - Justice Desk Africa - Cape Town

Justice Desk Africa is an award-winning Human Rights Organisation that operates across Africa. We were established in 2013, with the main goal of Promoting the Power of Everyday Activists. Our mission is to empower everyday people, within all areas of society, to understand, defend and access their fundamental human rights. We believe that the everyday person understands their community and unique contexts like no other, and therefore are best suited to challenge the injustices that affect them and work towards transforming their communities for the better. The everyday person has immense power, and therefore responsibility, to lead incredible, sustainable and impactful change - and it is our mission as JDA to educate, equip and empower them on their journey to do just that.  We do this through empowering and equipping local people with the necessary skills, tools, knowledge and platforms to lead their own change, through a variety of training and education opportunities, national and international lobbying initiatives, as well as community-led empowerment projects.

Israel was openly critical of apartheid through the 1950s and 60s as it built alliances with post-colonial African governments. But most African states broke ties after the 1973 Yom Kippur war and the government in Jerusalem began to take a more benign view of the isolated regime in Pretoria. The relationship changed so profoundly that, in 1976, Israel invited the South African prime minister, John Vorster - a former Nazi sympathiser and a commander of the fascist Ossewabrandwag that sided with Hitler - to make a state visit.

Leaving unmentioned Vorster's wartime internment for supporting Germany, Israel's prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, hailed the South African premier as a force for freedom and made no mention of Vorster's past as he toured the Jerusalem memorial to the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis. At a state banquet, Rabin toasted "the ideals shared by Israel and South Africa: the hopes for justice and peaceful coexistence". Both countries, he said, faced "foreign-inspired instability and recklessness".

Vorster, whose army was then overrunning Angola, told his hosts that South Africa and Israel were victims of the enemies of western civilisation. A few months later, the South African government's yearbook characterised the two countries as confronting a single problem: "Israel and South Africa have one thing above all else in common: they are both situated in a predominantly hostile world inhabited by dark peoples."

Vorster's visit laid the ground for a collaboration that transformed the Israel-South Africa axis into a leading weapons developer and a force in the international arms trade. [Alon Liel, former Israeli ambassador to Pretoria] who headed the Israeli foreign ministry's South Africa desk in the 80s, says that the Israeli security establishment came to believe that the Jewish state may not have survived without the relationship with the Afrikaners.

"We created the South African arms industry," says Liel. "They assisted us to develop all kinds of technology because they had a lot of money. When we were developing things together we usually gave the know-how and they gave the money. After 1976, there was a love affair between the security establishments of the two countries and their armies.

"We were involved in Angola as consultants to the [South African] army. You had Israeli officers there cooperating with the army. The link was very intimate."

Alongside the state-owned factories turning out materiel for South Africa was Kibbutz Beit Alfa, which developed a profitable industry selling anti-riot vehicles for use against protesters in the black townships.

—

By the 1980s, Israel and South Africa echoed each other in justifying the domination of other peoples. Both said that their own peoples faced annihilation from external forces - in South Africa by black African governments and communism; in Israel, by Arab states and Islam. But each eventually faced popular uprisings - Soweto in 1976, the Palestinian intifada in 1987 - that were internal, spontaneous and radically altered the nature of the conflicts.

"There are things we South Africans recognise in the Palestinian struggle for national self-determination and human rights," says [Ronnie Kasrils, former South African Intelligence Minister]. "The repressed are demonised as terrorists to justify ever-greater violations of their rights. We have the absurdity that the victims are blamed for the violence meted out against them. Both apartheid and Israel are prime examples of terrorist states blaming the victims."

There are important differences. Israel faced three wars of survival, and the armed struggle in South Africa never evolved to the murderous tactics or scale of killing adopted by Palestinian groups over recent years. But, from the 1980s, the overwhelming superiority of Israeli military power, the diminishing threat from its neighbours and the shift of the conflict to Palestinian streets eroded the sympathy that Israel once commanded abroad.

White South Africa and Israel painted themselves as enclaves of democratic civilisation on the front line in defending western values, yet both governments often demanded to be judged by the standards of the neighbours they claimed to be protecting the free world from.

"The whites [in South Africa] always saw their fate in a way related to the fate of the Israelis because the Israelis were a white minority surrounded by 200 million fanatic Muslims assisted by communism," says Liel. "Also, there was this analysis that said Israel is a civilised western island in the midst of these 200 million barbaric Arabs and it's the same as the Afrikaners; five million Afrikaners surrounded by hundreds of millions of blacks who are also assisted by communism."

When Israel finally began to back away from the apartheid regime as international pressure on the Afrikaner government grew, Liel says Israel's security establishment balked. "When we came to the crossroads in '86-'87, in which the foreign ministry said we have to switch from white to black, the security establishment said, 'You're crazy, it's suicidal.' They were saying we wouldn't have military and aviation industries unless we had had South Africa as our main client from the mid-1970s; they saved Israel. By the way, it's probably true," he says.

emphasis mine. this article is from 2006 and is a part of a two-part series investigating whether israel subjects palestinians to apartheid. the first part is here. since this article was published, amnesty international, human rights watch, and the united nations office of the high commissioner on human rights, among other organizations, have declared israel’s occupation of and blockade on palestine (the west bank and gaza strip, respectively) a form of apartheid.

05: Finding my "Footing" as a Nature Interpreter through Environmental Education

Over the past several weeks of this course, I have spent a considerable amount of time reflecting on my own relationship with nature. Through this self-reflecting process, I have flipped through photo albums of family trips and journals that I’ve kept from camping excursions. I decided for this week’s topic, I would share my experience in Tanzania, Africa and how the educational journey combined learnings about both science and the environment.

To begin, I feel it’s essential to provide some context. Science education refers to the teaching of scientific knowledge and core concepts (Wals et al., 2014). Science education is often supported by environmental education (Wals et al., 2014) Environmental education refers to the teaching of knowledge in addition to the incorporation of values (Wals et al., 2014). The two disciplines support one another despite differences in their approaches (Wals et al., 2014). Science is most often taught in an academic setting, at a desk, with an expert delivering the material. They may reference the natural world, but the values are absent (Wals et al, 2014). There is a gap embedded in the educational system that, in recent years, has separated scientific education with environmental education (Wals et al., 2014). The values and hands-on experience I had while in Tanzania have been the most impactful lessons I have had in my lifetime thus far.

In 2018, I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the mission trip program my high school offers students in their grade 11 year. The program consisted of local community initiatives, classes on global development, and team-building activities. In addition to the humanitarian aspect of the program, my teacher emphasized the importance of the natural world and sustainable practices that the Western world could adopt. Tanzania and the greater continent of Africa offer vastly different climates, landscapes, and more diverse wildlife than what we are accustomed to. The people of Tanzania, specifically the village I spent my time in, rely on the land and their natural world out of necessity for survival. 

One of the activities through which we learned from some of the residents of the village was the concept of boma smearing. Boma smearing is essentially the insulation of homes using a mixture of cow manure and sand. This concept was clearly very foreign to young Canadians; however, the experience was eye-opening in how the natural world can be used in the absence of modern technology. It would be naïve to ignore the fact that most often this was necessary due to the lack of income and resources. While being exposed to a vastly different socioeconomic community, this exercise provided invaluable perspective as we witnessed this community’s ability to use something as simple as manure to fulfill a need as important as insulating their homes. I utilized previous knowledge from science courses of materials and biological compounds and the sensitivity I had acquired in working with the village residents to contextualize this. I will always carry this humbling and intimate experience with me through my life in the Western world.

I believe that this experience was integral to my ability to interpret the nature around me. The experience both in class and in country, was the perfect synergy between science education and environmental education. I was encouraged to internalize and interact with the world around me through artistic exercises and scientific discussion (Hooykaas, 2024). The delivery of information I experienced was conducive to all learning styles (Hooykaas, 2024). Although my words cannot fully bring justice to the experience I had, the feelings that remain have motivated me to become a contributing member to the protection of our natural world. The local people of this Tanzanian village completed simple tasks of everyday life with such joy. This observation pushed me to do some personal reflection and signified to me that it is truly how you interact with the world around that can help dictate your quality of life.

I am curious if any of my readers have been doing some of their own reflecting on past experiences and whether your outlook has changed through establishing "footing" as a nature interpreter? 

P.S. We had the opportunity to attend a safari! I wanted to share some of my favorite shots from this day. This Safari was in the Tarangire National Park and was approximately five hours long. The impact the wild landscape can have on the behaviours of these creatures was breathtaking and undeniably powerful.  

References

Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 2: Teaching learners. University of Guelph. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/858004/viewContent/3640016/View

Wals, A. E. J., Brody, M., Dillon, J., & Stevenson, R. B. (2014). Science education. Convergence between science and environmental education. Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), 344(6184), 583–584. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.125051

23 September 2019 | Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex smile as they visit a Justice Desk initiative in Nyanga township, during their royal tour of South Africa in Cape Town, South Africa. The Justice Desk initiative teaches children about their rights and provides self-defence classes and female empowerment training to young girls in the community. (c) Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Hi! For the WIP ask meme: Where the Femme Fatale is the Noire Detective (it was difficult to choose just one because you have many intriguing titles, but I love detectives so...😄)

Aaaw Thanks! I do too lolol. So that one is about a female detective in a fictional city built on a massive boardwalk/wooden platform on the coast off an alternate universe West Africa.

I'll try to get some readers who know what they're talking about for climate/culture details eventually until then I just have research and 1/4th of a draft.

There is a also a mob culture revolving around a drug found only here. *Deep Breath* I'm purposely playing to cliche's as much as possible for reasons that will become clear.

Albertina has an interesting hobby, but for a job, she's carved out a little niche for herself.

Excerpt:

Albertina checked her make-up in the standing mirror on her desk; in it, she could also see the window behind her. She’d left it open, with the blinds up, and though the mosquito netting stirred, the stars were clearly visible, though it was early yet. She tilted the mirror, uncrossed her legs, slipped her heels back on and called her client in.

As he seated himself, Albertina tapped her lamp to a brighter setting which picked out a reddish gleam in his hair. He set his hat on his knee. “I heard you were the one to see, Ms. Tembe.”

His smile was white and flawless and she realized that he wore an entertainer’s sunset lip gloss, which denoted a particular skill. Albertina had long since adopted the marshland’s accent and she fit it to her motion now. Shrugging her shoulders forward, she crossed her arms, smiling sweetly.

“Am I? I could be. It’s been a slow week. What’s your business?” Here her look turned inviting. “And how did you hear of me?”

“Etienne Farrow, but call me Etienne. I had a friend who lived here in Windcrest, had for five years. They were murdered three weeks ago and the investigation seems to have stalled. I was just there, toady, actually.” He took a deep breath. “I believe they are just waiting long enough to safely announce an inconclusive close. I want justice for my friend.” His eyes were bright with hate. “As for how I heard of you, I think I’ll keep that to myself.”

I cut my skin to liberate the splinter: Act 2

Medium: 3 rubber tyres, 4 wooden crutches, reconfigured metal school desks, 3 porcelain dogs, torch and cloth

[Source ‘I cut my skin to liberate the splinter: Act 1‘, Kemang Wa Lehulere, 2017 | Tate]

I cut my skin to liberate the splinter: Act 2 2017 is made up of three rubber tyres and four wooden crutches. Attached to the tyre treads are short lengths of metal tubing, salvaged from the legs of old school desks and welded together. As with the school desks, the rubber tyres are a childhood motif for Wa Lehulere. In impoverished areas of South Africa, children frequently play with abandoned car tyres. In wealthier communities, tyres are often repurposed into children’s swings. While this material is associated with the innocence of childhood, in the South African context it also recalls burning tyre blockades and the practice of necklacing, a particularly gruesome form of mob justice (a car tyre would be forced over the head and around the arms of the suspect before it was drenched in petrol and set alight) reserved for those thought to be government collaborators or informers during the apartheid era. The modified tyres and crutches symbolise injury and injustice, but also hold the promise of mobility and play. When activated, two performers use the crutches to wheel around the tyres, while at other moments a single performer stands on top of one tyre and uses the crutches to move around. Meanwhile three porcelain dogs stand by.

[Source ‘I cut my skin to liberate the splinter: Act 1‘, Kemang Wa Lehulere, 2017 | Tate]

Robben Island: A Guide to Booking Ferry Tickets and Exploring History

Introduction

In the tranquil waters of the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Cape Town, lies a small, seemingly ordinary island with an extraordinary history. Robben Island, once a desolate prison, is now a symbol of resilience and triumph over adversity. Booking ferry tickets to Robben Island is not just a journey across the waves; it's an immersive experience that delves into the heart of South Africa's past, offering a poignant reminder of the triumph of the human spirit.

The Island's Legacy

Robben Island has etched its place in history primarily due to its role as a political prison during the dark days of apartheid. The island held many political prisoners, including the most iconic figure of the anti-apartheid movement, Nelson Mandela. Today, visiting Robben Island is an opportunity to witness the tangible echoes of the struggle for freedom and to pay homage to those who sacrificed for a more just society.

The Ferry Ride: A Passage Through Time

As you book your ferry tickets to Robben Island, you're not just securing a seat on a boat; you're reserving a passage through time. The short journey across the azure waters is more than a mere commute; it's a transition from the bustling city to a place frozen in history. The sea breeze carries with it the stories of those who once sailed these same waters in pursuit of justice and equality.

Guided Tours: Walking in the Footsteps of Heroes

Upon reaching Robben Island, visitors are greeted by knowledgeable guides, often former political prisoners, who share firsthand accounts of life on the island. Walking through the prison blocks, visitors gain insight into the harsh conditions endured by those who fought against oppression. The stark cells, the limestone quarry where prisoners toiled, and the isolation of the place all serve as powerful reminders of the resilience of the human spirit.

Nelson Mandela's Cell: A Humbling Encounter

A visit to Robben Island is incomplete without standing before the humble cell that housed Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years in captivity. The small space, furnished only with a bed, a desk, and a few personal belongings, encapsulates the immense sacrifice made by Mandela and others in the pursuit of freedom. It's a moment of reflection, an opportunity to grasp the magnitude of the struggle and the ultimate triumph of forgiveness over resentment.

Natural Beauty and Breathtaking Views

Beyond its historical significance, Robben Island boasts breathtaking natural beauty. The coastal landscapes, diverse birdlife, and panoramic views of Cape Town make the island a haven for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike. The juxtaposition of the island's serene beauty with its tumultuous past creates a unique atmosphere that is both sombre and uplifting.

Preservation and Education: The Island's Dual Role

Robben Island is not frozen in time; it is a living testament to the power of transformation. Today, the island serves a dual role as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a museum, preserving its historical significance while also educating future generations. Booking ferry tickets to Robben Island is a commitment to understanding the complexities of South Africa's history and contributing to the ongoing narrative of reconciliation.

Community Impact and Support

By booking ferry tickets to Robben Island, visitors actively contribute to the island's preservation and the broader community. The revenue generated from tourism helps fund conservation efforts and supports educational programs. Additionally, engaging with local communities and businesses further amplifies the positive impact of tourism, fostering a sense of shared responsibility for preserving this crucial piece of South Africa's heritage.

Conclusion

Robben Island Museum Tour is more than a logistical step in your travel itinerary; it's an invitation to connect with the past, bear witness to the struggles of a nation, and appreciate the resilience of the human spirit. As the ferry cuts through the waves, it carries with it the stories of those who endured, fought, and ultimately triumphed. Robben Island is not just a destination; it's a poignant reminder that history, though at times painful, is a powerful force that shapes our understanding of the world and our place in it.

Good morning! I hope you slept well and feel rested? Currently sitting at my desk, in my study, attired only in my blue towelling robe, enjoying my first cuppa of the day.

Welcome to Too Much Information Tuesday.

More iPhones are sold every day than people are born.

80% of all serious or fatal car crashes are caused by men.

American women’s confidence in their bodies peaks at age 74.

25% of Britons do less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week.

The expiration date on water bottles is for the bottle not the water.

In some species of spider, females are 125 times heavier than males.

Jellyfish can learn from experience, even though they don’t have a brain.

92% of people type things into Google to see if they spelled them correctly.

The middle finger originated in Ancient Greece as a symbol for anal intercourse.

Due to geographical differences in gravity, you weigh more in Illinois than Indiana.

Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol before writing can actually enhance your creativity.

Roughly six billion people on Earth own a phone but only 4.5 billion have access to a working toilet.

A fruitcake from Scott’s Antarctic expedition of 1911 was found in 2017 in ‘almost’ edible condition.

Earlier this year, a Harvard researcher of dishonesty was put on leave due to allegations of fraud in her work.

98% of Europeans live in areas where the air is more polluted than the World Health Organization believes is safe.

In ‘The Lion King’, Mufasa's roar when he saves Simba and Nala from the hyenas is a combination of a grizzly, a tiger and an F-16.

It's actually a myth that camels store water in their humps. Instead, camels use their humps to store energy-rich fat deposits.

Only a third of the borders in sub-Saharan Africa have been officially ‘delimited’ - where both countries agree on exactly where they are.

In 1995, a drunk Boris Yeltsin was found outside the White House wearing only his underpants and trying to hail a taxi so he could get pizza.

In 1920, Clarence Blethen retired hurt from a baseball match after biting himself on the bottom with the false teeth he kept in his back pocket.

The animal with the largest penis for its size (the barnacle) lives on the face of the animal with the largest penis in absolute terms (the blue whale).

Due to other countries registering there for tax reasons, Panama has the largest shipping fleet in the world, greater than China’s and the USA’s combined.

Former US Supreme Court justice David Souter had to move house because his previous home wasn’t structurally sound enough to support all his books.

In 1980, the FBI formed a fake company and attempted to bribe members of congress. Nearly 25% of those tested accepted the bribe and were convicted.

In 2022, the average speed of a car in central London was around 9 miles per hour. In 1908, the average speed of a horse-drawn carriage was around 10 miles per hour.

The Popsicle was invented in 1905 by an 11-year-old boy named Frank Epperson, who inadvertently left a glass of soda water with a stirring stick outside overnight in freezing weather.

‘Misdirected amplexus’ (good name for a band) is the term for male frogs gripping onto and trying to mate with inappropriate partners: a frog from another species, an inanimate object, a fish.

Every day from 1899 until 1918, the Paris edition of the New York Herald published the same letter from ‘Old Philadelphia Lady’ living in Paris who asked how to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius and back. In total, the letter was published 6,718 times.

In 2016, a Somalian suicide bomber brought explosives onto Daallo Airlines Flight 159. Twenty minutes after take-off, the explosives successfully detonated and blasted a hole in the side of the plane. The bomber was instantly sucked out and was the only fatality.

Every morning, Napoleon would stand naked and pour a bottle of eau de cologne over his head and then rub his chest and hands with a rough brush. His back and shoulders were rubbed by a valet, and if the rubbing wasn’t vigorous enough, Napoleon would shout ‘Stronger, like an ass!’

Centralia, Pennsylvania, a former coal mining town, has been burning for almost 60 years. In 1962, the town council decided to burn a landfill, unaware it connected to underground mine shafts. This ignited a coal seam, which continued to burn. Pennsylvania gave up after spending $7 million trying to put out the fire in the 1990s. Despite the dangers, a few residents still live there. With coal supplies under the town, the fire could burn for another 250 years.

Okay, that’s enough information for one day. Have a tremendous and tumultuous Tuesday! I love you all.

Immigration Updates

To MPI’s data, USCIS has not revealed backlog statistics on other kinds of green-card applications the agency adjudicates. The second kind of backlog is because of delays processing candidates' documents, which is related to government capacity in addition to increased background and felony checks. Overall, fifty three % of the immigrant cohort who turned LPRs in FY 2008 naturalized by FY 2018. 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Lo mentioned China should neither politicize its epidemic prevention efforts nor block other nations' extremely efficient vaccines to promote its personal vaccines or vaccine nationalism. Tao Lina of the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention described the Sinopharm vaccine as " the world's most unsafe vaccine" via Weibo in early January. Tips On How To Apply For A China Visa Applications by mails usually are not accepted and shall be refused at most Chinese embassies or consulates. In international locations with CVASCs, applicants may find a way to apply by publish, or submit functions primarily based on an internet appointment by way of the website of CVASC. To get a Malaysia visa for Chinese residents, the traveler can apply for both a Malaysia eVisa or eNTRI visa. There are a few differences between the 2 documents together with the duration of the visa, the processing time and the number of entries allowed into the country. 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When you must renew your residence allow, keep in mind that you will also have to renew the proof of economic assets for a yr. Also, you receive the residence allow for a specific objective, namely to check. Be prepared that, when you have to lengthen your residence permit, you could be requested to prove that you've got actually been taking programs and passing exams. The embassy or consulate provides you with all the knowledge you want and course of your application. To hand in your documents and apply, you can't just present up to the embassy, but have to order an appointment for a visa interview beforehand. Our family want to place our 9-year-little lady in one of Swiss boarding school. We are Chinese Citizen, and now we maintain Portugal golden visa, does my daughter need to use for a Swiss pupil visa? Besides, can my husband and I accompany her in Switzerland. During semester holidays worldwide college students can work up to 100 percent. 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This visa is issued to students who come to China to review, pursue advanced research, or for fieldwork. International college students must discover an accredited group who's providing courses or internships to foreigners so that they will ship an acceptance letter and a visa software kind. See under for the full record of Chinese student visa necessities. We've helped a selection of foreigners apply for China visas since 2007 with our full service – from drafting your utility type and getting the proper of invitation letters to submitting your utility. We can take care of all the red tape to guarantee that you might have a seamless utility course of. Those who must travel to Mainland China urgently however do not have a sound Home Return Permit can apply for a Chinese Exit and Entry Permit, also only via the CTS, in Hong Kong or Macau or at the ports of Luohu and Huanggang. Shenzhen Visas can't be obtained from Chinese Embassy’s or the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong. 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You have to supply personal details about your self corresponding to passport details, parents’ names, and addresses. Review your info, click on ‘Verify’ to initiate a verification e-mail. Go to your email, and click on on on the verification link. The specific requirements for a visa depend on the applicant’s circumstances and travel plans. Find below a full record of the countries whose residents don't require a visa to journey to Taiwan.

If you need some good news or want to make good news, BTS Namjoon projects are still circulating that focus on saving the environment and helping each other as humans!

Here are just some of the hundreds of projects:

Trees4Joon. Aiming to combat the increase of wildfires and deforestation! $2 = 1 tree! Donate here.

#JoonAndYouthForArt. empowers children in need through art, to give them tools to create their own reality. They provide art tutoring, food and water, educational expenses and more. Donate here.

Bright School. A nonprofit helping children who are deaf, hard of hearing or language delayed. Donate here.

Project Mi Casa. In honor of JK, RM, Jimin bdays. Habitat for Humanity (India) is an NGO that responds to disasters and humanitarian emergencies by leveraging expertise in affordable shelter, sanitation and housing assistance. The goal is to not just provide immediate relief to affected families, but to place them on a path to permanent, disaster-resilient shelter solutions. Donate here.

#BTSxLegambiente. For BTS birthdays in 2021, BTS Italia collaborates with Legambiente in support of Change Climate Change, Legambiente's campaign of mobilization, information and scientific monitoring to combat the climate crisis. Donate here.

RM for Mbokodo Fundraiser. Supporting the work of The Justice Desk's Mbokodo Club Project in South Africa! This fundraiser raises vital funds for girl survivors of rape and gender-based violence! Donate here.

Everyone can participate. If an ARMY (or anyone who wants to make some good news) can't donate financially, they're encouraged to pick up litter or give back by making someone's day brighter. Just like Namjoon! Any way you can make the world a better place today, consider yourself Namjooning! 💜

 Success is the Best Kind of Revenge

I didn’t want to feel smug, I really didn’t, but I just couldn’t help the pin prick of smugness. My entire classes sat around, horribly disappointed in our Lycée classroom. Many of them had gotten responses for Universities jobs, and internships over the winter semester. They hadn’t turned out well. 

Alya had applied to a job at a newspaper, applied to three internships and sent four university applications out. She lost every one of them. Nino hadn’t gotten his internship either nor did he get into the music school he wanted. Kim had a scholarship and college acceptance revoked, and the two other Universities who had been offering swimming scholarships pulled their offers back too. Ivan and Myléne had both been under investigation over the break for charity fraud. Though they were cleared, no other charities wanted their help and their university had pulled their acceptance out. 

Rose’s eyes were still red and raw looking. Prince Ali had cut all contact with Rose and she was denied from her music schools. All of Max’s scholarships and every since school he applied to, all fourteen of them, pulled back their acceptance. Nathaniel’s comic strip was no longer being printed and there was a pending copyright suit. Sabrina was under investigation too, for theft, breaking and entering as well as illegal photography. Her university denied her as well. She assisted Lila and Alya in harassing me over the past few years. Adrien was sitting in his seat, a numb sort of look over his face as Nino patted his shoulder. Lila, however, was the only happy one in the class. She had a firm grip on Adrien’s arm as she chatted to an unset Alya about how she helped catch Hawkmoth with Ladybug. 

The only reason I knew all of this was because of their parents. Despite their children no longer speaking to me, my classmates' parents and siblings were still in good relations with my family. Their parents had described their disappointment and confusion to my parents after all of the university issues. 

I was sitting in the back with a sad looking Juleka, an annoyed Alix and an over smug Chloe. A weird sort of girl group that formed as the rest of the class refused to grow up. I wanted to feel bad, I really did, but honestly, they made their own graves. I tried to warn them, I tried to keep them from this. They choose the fool’s gold. 

Alix, Chloe and Juleka came to the light. Chloe figured it out the quickest, many of Lila’s lies had holes in them. Chloe saw the holes quite easily. Juleka became wary of Lila after Luka met her. Apparently, Lila’s inner song is like nails on chalkboards and dying kittens. As for Alix, she had asked Lila about the Rabbit Miraculous only for Lila to tell her that it was wielded by a man in the future. Either way, they all saw what was really going on. 

Mrs. Bustier walks into the room just as the bell rings, a large smile on her face. “Hello everyone. I hope you had a good break. Did everyone do their homework?” Most of the classmates looked down at those words. Our winter break homework, making a list of options for after Lycée this year. Normally we’d have private meetings about all of this today, while the rest of us worked in the library. Mrs. Bustier decided that our class would share our options with everyone else. 

“Well, would anyone like to start? Alya?” Mrs. Bustier gives a big smile to my former best friend. 

Alya’s face pales and she mumbles for a second before clearing her throat. “I, ahh. I’ve decided to take a year off, to do a year of work. There’s a grocery store that has some openings for me and the Zoo where my Dad works is hiring summer people for the gift shop and concessions.”

Mrs. Bustier’s smile drops. “Alya, what about your internships at the newspaper, or the one at TVi?”

Alya looks down. “I didn’t get them.”

“What about Goldsmith University in London? Or Cardiff University? Of the University of Amsterdam? Or ESJ Paris? You were looking forward to all of the programs these schools offered.”

Alya’s hand on the desk clenches. “I didn’t get in.”

Mrs. Bustier’s smile was completely gone now. “What?”

“All four Universities denied me. I didn't get into any of them.”

“Oh.” Mrs. Bustier blushes a deep red and looks around to the room before settling on me. She nudges her head towards Alya, telling me to comfort my classmate. 

I raise an eyebrow at her, causing her blush to deepen. She did that everytime I reminded her, either subtly or not, that she couldn’t put all of her responsibilities onto a child. Regardless, I spoke up. I really did feel some pity for the class. “I’m sorry about that Alya. Try again next year. A job or something might help boost your application.”

Alya whips around and glares at me. “I don’t need your pity! I’ll be fine! Unlike you, you’ll just be a nobody. I bet not a single University in the whole world wanted you!” I sigh and glance over at Mrs. Bustier. She remained silent as Alya rips into me. Typical. 

Chloe lets out a small laugh. “You’re one to talk.”

Alya’s face heats up again and Mrs. Bustier finally cleared her throat. “Well, let’s move on. Nino, what about you? What about that school in America?”

Nino rubs the back of his head. “I, uh. I heard back. They don’t think I’m ready to start at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. I didn’t get the internship either, the one in Hollywood. My parents are letting me keep my DJ work up next year, but I have to find a job.”

Mrs. Bustier’s smile is obviously forced now. She’d spent the whole break bragging about her classmates on social media and in an interview. So far, the class was not doing so well. “Rose? How about you? What music school are you going to?”

Rose immediately starts to tear up. “None of them! Julliad didn’t want me! Neither did the Royal Academy of Music or Royal College of Music in London. They said my music wasn’t good enough!” 

Rose was just about sobbing at this point in front of me. Juleka looks even more sad and I agreed with her. Rose’s lyrics were actually pretty good, until Lila got a hold of her. Now the music was less inspiring and unique. 

Mrs. Bustier looks up at me. A desperate plea in her eyes. I look away almost instantly, pulling out a small thing of tissues. I pass them over to Rose’s shoulder, getting a soft thank you in response. Juleka pulls out her phone and starts to text. More than likely offering a shoulder for Rose to cry on after class. 

Mrs. Bustier fumbles with her hands for a minute, looking around the class. “Sabrina, what about you? Do you still want that social justice degree?”

Sabrina drops her head into her arms. “No. I’m not going to University next year. My father wants me to stay in Paris with him until next year. He’s...worried about me.”

Mrs. Bustier’s eyes are a little more frantic now. “Myléne! Ivan! How about you two? Where do you hope to go to University next year?”

Myléne sinks in her seat. Ivan glances around the room like he’s hoping someone will help. No one does. “We’re ah, taking a year off too. Our summer volunteer trip in Africa fell through also. So, we’re sticking around for a while. Looking at our options.” Myléne nods. 

“Oh, good for you.” Mrs. Bustier looks around the room again. She avoided us. No surprise. Unlike the rest of the class, we really didn’t get much time to discuss our future with Mrs. Bustier. She seemed to be focusing on the students she believed would be going somewhere. “Kim! How about that swimming scholarship?”

Kim flushes red too. “I uh. I’m not going to be swimming in the fall. I’m thinking about some basic classes at a local university.”

“What about the scholarship?”

Kim’s eyes darted around, briefly looking at me, before continuing on. “I lost it. There were some issues, I didn’t qualify anymore.”

“Nathaniel! What about you? Did your new comic strip kick off?”

Nathenial’s head drops to his desk and he moans. The whole class stares in shock. Nathenial shakes his head on the desk, another moan emitting from below the red hair. 

“Max!” There’s a look of comfort in Mrs. Bustier. Her smartest pupil would come through, wouldn’t he. “How about you?”

“I got denied. All fourteen schools denied me!” Max had a slight crazed look in his eyes. As I looked closer I could see how unkempt me was. His suspenders were a little askew, his hair wasn’t quite as controlled as usual, and his glasses weren’t straight. “Me, the kid who made an AI was denied from MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Berkeley, University of Tokyo, ETH Zürich, California’s Institute of Technology, Technical University of Munich, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Nanyang Technological University, Princeton, and Grenoble Institute of Technology. All of my scholarships, gone!” A hysterical laugh rips through Max as he sits in his seat. 

Mrs. Bustier franic look was back as she scanned the room once more. She briefly looks up at the four of us then shakes her head. Alix rolls her eyes from across the row. Obviously Mrs. Bustier thought we’d all be failors too. Instead, she looks at Adrien and Lila. 

“Adrien, what about you? Any University plans?”

Adrien’s mouth opens and closes a few times. “I’m moving in with my Aunt. I plan to teach piano to some kids in the fall. I have some… stuff to do with my father’s company this summer. I don’t think I’ll be going to a University anytime soon.”

“Lila!” Mrs. Bustier’s voice is high and cracking. “What about you? Still doing charity work? Going to University?”

Lila gives a huge smile to the whole class. “Yes. I’ll be working in Achu for a little bit this summer. I got into a few schools in the U.S, France, England and in Italy. I’m not sure where I want to study yet, but I’m sure I’ll be the next best thing in Fashion. Opps!” Lila looks up at me. “I’m sorry Marinette! I didn’t mean to offend you.”

I give a small, fake smile. “Don’t worry Lila. It’s fine. Maybe I’ll see you next year? What schools did you get into?”

Lila’s fasade drops slightly. “I, uh. Parson’s in New York, and um, Central Saint Martins in London, and um Accademia Costume e Moda in Rome. I decided to go to Central Saint Martins.”

“Impressive. I didn’t send anything to the Accademia in Rome, but I’m happy to see someone else got into Parson’s and Saint Martins.” My smile is a little sharp. I could afford to fake my congratulations when I knew that Lila’s tower was about to collapse underneath her. 

“Marinette, you got into Parson’s and Saint Martins?” Mrs. Bustier’s smile was back and slightly crazed. “Which one of those will you be going to?”

“Neither. I did get into Parsons school of design in New York, as well as Central Saint Martin’s in London, but I’m not going to either of those.”

“What school will you be going to?” Mrs. Bustier’s eyebrows are furrowed. 

“The London College of Fashion. I got into ESMOD in Paris, Istituto Marangoni International in Milan, as well as Parson’s School of Design and Central Saint Martins. I thought about staying in Paris, but I just wanted a little distance. You know, spread my wings.  I didn’t feel like going to New York either. It’s pretty far away. I almost agreed to go to the school in Milan, but I think I’m going to hold off on that school until I go to get a Master’s Degree. So, it was between London College of Fashion and Saint Martins and I just liked the London College more.” 

“Oh, that’s fantastic Marinette!” Mrs. Bustier’s enthusiasm returns in full swing. 

Alya snort ruins the moment. “If she’s even telling the truth.”

Lila blinks and then looks back up at me. “Yah, that’s true. How do we know you’re not lying. You’ve been doing that alot the last four years.”

Mrs. Bustier smile turns into a frown and she instead gives a glare meant for a child. “It’s not nice to lie, Marinette.”

A smirk earns its way onto my face. “I’m not lying. I don’t care if you believe me or not, but I’m not lying. I’ll be in London, come Fall, studying to be a world class fashion designer.”

Alya snorts again. Mrs. Bustier gives me an exasperated look, but freezes as she meets my gaze. Any sort of appreciation or respect for my teacher was gone, replaced by annoyance and I hold Mrs. Bustier’s gaze for over a full minute, causing the woman to fidget. 

Chloe finally nudges me and clears her throat. “Well, I finally decided where I’ll be going in the fall. I even have a roommate picked out.” She nudges me with a smile. 

“No way you’re going to University.” Alya’s teeth are bare as she all but growls at Chloe. “Who would want you?”

Chloe shrugs. “Oh, you know. Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge, Oxford, INSEAD, Bocconi University, and the London Business School. I’m going to the London Business School. It’s ranked third in the world for Business studies. The only places above it are Harvard and INSEAD, but I don’t want to move all the way to America quite yet and I was not staying in a town less than an hour from you all.”

The whole class looks at Chloe in surprise. That was something they never realized. Chloe didn’t put work in when she was younger because she didn’t have to. Everything was given to her until Lycée when our teachers finally started to push Chloe. Now, she was a budding business woman already helping me with my MDC company. 

“No way!” Max looks up at Chloe. Anger in his eyes. “How did you get in and not me?”

Chlor rolls her eyes. “I’m fluent in French, English, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, as well as Portugese. I have a 4.00 GPA and perfect grades in all my classes. I got all A* grades in my A level exams to get me into the Schools in London. I even took the ACT and SAT for the Universities in America. I got a 33 on the ACT and a 1520 on the SAT. I have been helping my Daddy with the hotel for over three years and I’ve had three different internships.”

The whole class is staring at Chloe. They wanted to argue, but Alix cuts them off first. “Well, if we’re done arguing about how Chloe got into top Universities. I’m attending Cambridge in the Fall, just like my Dad and brother. I’m also tagging along on a dig in China this summer. There’s this old temple the Louvre is investigating with several other museums and colleges.”

The class just stares at her, completely complex. Alix shrugs and looks at Juleka. “Juleka, your turn.”

Juleka pulls her hair back and clears her throat. “I’m attending Guildhall School of Music and Drama, in London. I’ll be studying music and production arts. I’ve also been signed to a modeling agency in London, so I'll be doing that too.”

“So, you’ll all be living together?” Myléne looks at us curiously. 

I shake my head. “No, Alix and Juleka will be living on Campus this year, in the dorms. Chloe and I will be sharing an apartment however. Our schools are only 30 minutes apart when walking.”

“We’ve already found a place. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a large kitchen. Mari gave me the Master Bed and Bath so she could convert one of the extra bedrooms into a studio.”

Alya scoffs. “You doing anything else this summer?” She tries to sound strong, but it comes off a bit flat. 

“We’re all doing a Graduation trip to Italy, you know, because we couldn’t go on the class one. Juleka’s mom and Marinette’s Grandmother are chaperoning. We’ll be touring all of Italy over a month.” Alix gives the class a smile as someone knocks on the door. 

Mrs. Bustier gives us a small smile and goes to the door. There’s a gasp and Mrs. Bustier slowly backs up. There’s four police officers just outside the classroom door along with a small collection of people. Two of the people have a strong resemblance to Lila, and another person has an Italian look. Another three people all standing together, looking over the class. Principle Damocles is present as well, looking very pale. More people are filtering in and I realize it’s the parents of most of our classmates. Each set of parents comes and stands next to their child or sits on the bench with them. Juleka’s Mom gives me a little wave as she sits next to her daughter. 

Principle Damocles clears his throat. “Students, if I could have your attention please. There have been some... issues over the break that need to be addressed.”

Alya perks up. “Have you finally come to deal with Chloe and Marinette? They’ve been bullying poor Lila for years.”

“No.” One of the women who had been surveying the class turns to look at Alya. “We’re here for a variety of reasons. First of all, several students in this class are under investigation for a variety of charges. Second of all, almost every single one of you has ended being denied from every college you applied to. Lastly, We’re here to deal with the improper and naive mindsets that your Principal and Teacher have. Especially considering Ms. Rossi. Speaking of which.” The woman turns to Mrs. Bustier. “I’m not even going to touch your bluntly stupid way of dealing with bullies. That will be handled after all of this. Right now I’m going to ask why you threw every single rule about parental contact and special privileges out the window. You do not give students special privilege for medical conditions if they do not have doctors notes. You do not just ignore the fact that you can’t contact one of your students parents by anything but email. You don’t ignore when one of your students disappears willy nilly when every she feels like it.”

Mrs. Bustier opens and closes her mouth. “Who are you? I’ve been in contact with all of my students' parents.”

“I am Amelia Vaux, the Superintendent of Education in France. And no, you have not been in contact with all of your student’s parents. The email Lila Rossi gave you is an email she set up. Mrs. Rossi has never spoken to you, received an email or signed anything for the school. The woman is still operating under the assumption that your collége closed down for months at one point.”

“I, what?” Mrs. Bustier looks completely lost. 

“Lila Rossi gave you a fake email and a fake phone number for her Mother. Lila Rossi’s father is not asstrange, despite what she has been saying. Lila Rossi has a clean bill of health according to a doctor's visit over break. No tinnitus, no arthritis, no sprains, no breaks, no vision issues, no hearing issues at all. The worst thing she’s had was a bad case of influenza when she was 11. Of course, this is ignoring the fact that the girl was diagnosed as a pathological liar and with antisocial personality disorder when the girl was 13 years old. It’s in her medical file and her student file, along with a warning about the girl’s bullying habits.”

Everyone was staring at Mrs. Vaux up front, the parents looked sick and my classmates were staring in disbelief. “No,” Alya is shaking her head. “This can’t be true. Marinette is the liar.”

Mrs. Vaux turns from Mrs. Bustier and look at Alya. “Actually, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng was telling the truth and has unfairly suffered for it for years. From what I understand, most of this class had vandalized Mrs. Dupain-Cheng’s belongings or stolen things from her. All on the words of Ms. Rossi, who’s lies could have been proven false by a google search. Jagged Stone is allergic to cats. Prince Ali only runs children’s charities. I could continue.”

One of the women in the room clears her voice at this point. “If I may, I am here on the behalf of several people of various nationalities.” She sets a pile of papers before Lila and Alya. “These are cease and desist orders for the both of you. The Ladyblog must be shut down and deleted on the ground of libel, slander, and a violation of rights. As for Ms. Rossi, you have multiple charges of libel, slander, illegal photography, and a variety of charges you order to be sent to famous people who don’t know you.” Lila was paling quickly. “You also have a case of breaking and entering, theft, copyright violation and assault.”

“I have diplomatic immunity. All you can do is kick me out of the country.” Lila stands up from her seat, a smug look on her face.

“No!” A woman with a heavy Italian accent frowns at Lila. “We have revoked your diplomatic immunity. You will be charged here, in France, and will serve out your sentence in a French Prison. Italy already made a mistake when they let you have therapy for your original incident instead of time in a juvenile detention center. We will not make that mistake again.”

A police officer clears his throat and looks over at Lila. “Lila Rossi. You are under arrest for breaking and entering, theft, copyright violation, assault, destruction of property, libel, slander, charity fraud and terrorism. Hawkmoth had a camera in his lair. We have videos of you visiting his lair. He also confirmed that you willingly took akumas, helped him akumatized people and a variety of other things.”

Lila stands frozen as the police officer cuffs her hands behind her back. She finally snaps out of it as she looks towards the other two Italian people. “Mamma! Pápa! Do something!”

The woman takes one look at Lila and then bursts into tears. She’s full on sobbing into her hands. The man simple lays a hand on Mrs. Rossi and levels his daughter with a deadly stare. “No Lila. We cannot help you out of this mess.”

Lila gaps and then glares at her father. “Why not?”

“You’re not a child anymore, Lila! You’re over 18! There’s video evidence of your crimes! That blog is filled with your lies! You can’t lie your way out of this. You can’t get off scot free! You’re being charged with terrorism!”

Lila gaps for another minute then screams. A blood-thirst, angry scream as she whips around and glares at me. “You! This is all your doing Dupain-Cheng! You stupid bitch!”

I level with Lila’s glare. “Yes. I got the ball rolling. You see, when you broke into my room before break and stole my designs so you could add them to your portfolio for University, you didn’t realize that I had a video camera set up. I got on camera, breaking and entering, theft, and copyright violation. I gave the evidence to the police. I didn't expect all of this, but I’m not sorry.”

Lila screams again and starts to fight the police, forcing the second cop to help grab Lila and drag her from the room. Lila’s parents follow them out, with the Italian woman giving the class a nod before following. The lawyer gives Mrs. Vaux a nod and follows after them. 

The other two police officers exchange looks before one clears his throat. “When investigation Ms. Lila Rossi, all of you were brought up. Most of you have broken a variety of laws at the behest of Ms. Rossi. Whether you knew that you were breaking the law or not doesn’t matter. Most of you destroyed the property of one of your classmates, more than once. You also physically assaulted her on more than one occasion. We have the video footage to prove it.”

Several parents were moaning now, forlorn looks on their faces as they started to realize the consequences of their children’s actions. 

“Oh, my god!” We all look over at Max who looked a second away from hyperventilating. “I wrote my University admissions paper about a project Lila worked on. She gave me all of the data!”

Max’s mother moans. “You didn’t look up any of it!”

Max flushes. “She said it hadn’t been published yet.”

Max’s mother mumbles under her breath. “This is why all those Universities denied you! This is why you lost all our University acceptances and scholarships! Because you took the word of some Italian classmate above your own common sense.”

“Max thought that a napkin could cut his eye.” Chloe starts to file her nails, ignoring Max’s mother, who was now staring at her. “And he wears glasses.”

Max’s mother moans once again, and slumps onto the steps next to Max’s seat.

The police officers exchange looks once again. The first one continues his speech as if he hadn’t been interrupted. “Due to the fact that most of your crimes were committed when you were a minor and were against the same person. There will not be any fines or jail time for any of you.”

There’s a large collective sigh through the room. Nino’s mother looks like she’s praying. Mrs.Vaux clears her throat. “While that may be true for legal terms, you are all on probation. One step out of line and you will be expelled from this school. You will also all have to complete anti-bullying seminars to graduate. Mrs. Bustier is also no longer your teacher. Mrs. Aveline will be your homeroom teacher for the rest of the year.” She gestures to one of the women behind her. “Mrs. Fortier is your temporary principle for the rest of the year. Mr. Damocles is no longer your principle.”

Rose hesitantly raises a hand. “Why are you firing Mrs. Bustier and Mr. Damocles?”

Mrs. Vaux’s frown deepens. “None of this would have happened if the two of them had done their jobs. Ms. Rossi’s habits were clearly outlined in her student file. If either of them had bothered to do their job correctly four years ago, we wouldn’t be in this position.” Rose nods meekly, sinking back into her seat and leaning into her mother. 

The police officer clears his throat again. “Now, while none of you will be fined or be serving jail time, you do have to serve a certain number of community service hours to complete within the next six months. If you don’t complete the service hours, you will be fined for the crimes. Your parents have already agreed to the terms we will lay out for you. However, because all of you are over 18, you can try to bring this to court.”

Alya turns and glares at me. “This is all your fault!”

Alya’s mouth grabs her by the shoulders and jerks her around. “Alya. You will complete these service hours. If you get convicted you’re looking at thousands in euros of fines and almost a decade of jail time.”

Alya gasps. “What did I do?”

The second policeman glances down at a clipboard. “Libel, slander, damaging of property, theft, and assault.”

Alya stares at the man, going slack in her seat. It was like the consequences of everything she’d done of the past four years were finally hitting her. 

The second policeman clears his throat once again. “Alright. Rose Lavillant, Ivan Bruel, Mylène Haprèle, Nathaniel Kurtzberg and Max Kanté, you will have to serve 50 hours of community service over the next six months. Nino Lahiffe, Lê Chiên Kim, Alya Césaire, and Sabrina Raincomprix, you all will be serving 100 hours of community service.”

“Ms. Césaire, by court order, your Ladyblog will have to be deleted as well.” Alya gaps at the officer and goes to stand, but both of her parents hold her down. 

Mrs. Vaux sighs, and moves her gaze up to the four of us at the top. “Ms. Dupain-Cheng, Ms. Bourgeois, Ms. Couffaine, and Ms. Kubdel, you will be switched into Ms. Mendeleiev’s class for the remainder of the year. I believe it would be best for you to be out of this environment.”

All four of us nod and start to pick up our things. The rest of the classmates stare at us. “But, who’s going to be class representative now?” Rose looks close to tears again.

I shrug, pulling my bag over my shoulder. “The job goes to the deputy now.” 

The whole class shifts to look at Alya, who pales once again. The four of us walk down the stairs to the near silence of the room, our parents trailing after us. As soon as we were out the door several people started yelling in the room. 

I knew I should care, and part of me did, but I just felt happy that most of this was all over. It took four years, but finally, everyone knew about Lila. I hadn’t felt this light in years.

Ch. 2 ~~~~ Ch. 3

Opinionista • Ismail Lagardien • 15 March 2021

Fifteen years along the road to nowhere, and the worst is yet to come

We are at a point, now, where instead of pointing to the perversity of misguided distribution, corruption, theft, maladministration, tenderpreneurs, and State Capture, discussions are deflected – and the spectrum of opinion has been narrowed.

In 2015, Justice Malala published his book We Have Now Begun Our Descent. Without having read the book I sat down to consider South Africa’s future, and concluded that there was little to no hope for the country. I was in Bonn, Germany, at the time, after four or more years in the secretariat of the National Planning Commission. Although the Covid-19 pandemic has had a dreadful impact on South Africa’s political economy and society – as it has on almost every country in the world – the country’s problems took a turn for the worse at Nasrec at the end of 2017, and Malala’s “descent” gained momentum. 

I want to break with orthodoxy, and say that it is the politics, not “the economy,” as the old canard goes. Homo economicus might believe that the economy is everything, and everything is the economy, but “the economy” is those millions of transactions that humans make every minute of every day, and the personal and public political decisions that enable or disable those people (from making those transactions).

A collapse that preceded democracy

Before I continue, I want to share a passage I wrote between 1991 and 1993, when I was the southern African correspondent for the New Straits Times of Malaysia. I don’t have the exact date of publication, because the person who decided to make a “portfolio” of my work neatly trimmed my reports and columns but failed to include the date. I was going to save it for my memoir, but here it is – written at a time when the apartheid government was losing its grip on power and state institutions in the early 1990s:

“It is as if a villainous character had every day, over the years, gone to the Union Buildings, the seat of government in the capital, Pretoria, and methodologically and systematically undone every single screw, bolt, nut and nail of government. Every day, now, for months on end, a section of government in South Africa is coming apart. It is difficult, now, after a spate of scandalous exposes in recent months to say exactly when the disintegration first started, or when the first door, window or desk in the Union Buildings collapsed. What has become evident, however, is that the state is collapsing bit by bit, in slow motion, while its powers of rehabilitation [are] dissipating with its political might.”

It has been reported, over and again, that the democratic government inherited a state that was on its knees. As the Afrikaner historian Herman Giliomee wrote, a decade ago, March 1985 marked, “the day apartheid started dying”. 

Wrote Giliomee: “Pik Botha recalls: ‘I will never forget the night of July 31 when [Minister of Finance] Barend du Plessis phoned me… [He said]: ‘Pik, I must tell you that the country is facing inevitable bankruptcy … The process has started.’”

We had growth, and increased social spending, but the thieves saw opportunities

The first democratic government of South Africa, led by Nelson Mandela, was fully aware of the terrible state of the economy. They managed, within a decade or more, to provide utilities and access to public goods and services (including social grants) to millions of people across the country (all necessary for a stable, progressive social democracy), while managing the country’s finances, avoiding profligacy – and through it all, produced growth and a Budget surplus. 

This demonstrated that you can reduce poverty, provide social services, deliver public goods and services, as well as manage the country’s finances. The problem that emerged, after the first 12-15 years was not lack of growth, or a contraction of the economy, it was about distribution – much of the growth did, indeed go to social spending, but a lot more began to go into the wrong pockets. Corruption, maladministration, cronyism, nepotism and prebendalism took root – what good was the ANC-led state, if it did not line the pockets of its leaders, and members who were deployed to state agencies, and boards across the country?

Fast-forward to a few years later, and we are at a point, now, where instead of pointing to the perversity of misguided distribution, corruption, theft, maladministration, tenderpreneurs, and State Capture, discussions are deflected – and the spectrum of opinion has been narrowed. Somewhat simultaneously rose the politics of identity (the ugly version), and instead of policies focusing on social problems, they focused on contortions of language, the politics of revenge, populism, scapegoating, and the speeches and statements of leaders were increasingly laced with words like “bloodshed,” and all the while xenophobia, aimed mainly at Africans and Asians, has spread. 

A careful read of Carl Niehaus’s eight-page submission on likely policies of the ruling alliance, suggests we are expected to choose between Radical Economic Transformation by policy (ANC), or Radical Economic Transformation by force (EFF). At what point do the ANC’s radical forces join the EFF? Impossible, but not improbable. 

Are we there yet?

Let’s take stock, briefly, of where we are. We know that “the economy” is in the pits. But what makes an economy stable, expansive, progressive and able to secure social justice? Don’t ask an economist. To them it’s all cost-benefits, assumptions, laws and models which they mistake for truth. And anyway, people who are so sure of their own predictive powers belong on the beachfront with fortune tellers. What makes an economy work is everything else: the people, the institutions, the policies, ethics, food, water, shelter, clothing and, well, energy. If we start just with energy, consider the fact that we may have load shedding  for at least the next five years. 

This week, Eskom’s Chief Executive Officer, André de Ruyter, confirmed that “there will be a shortfall in supply of electricity of approximately 4,000 megawatts over the next five years as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. We welcome further interventions announced by the president, which will include a further request for proposals for a further 2,600 megawatts from wind and solar energy.” 

Using non-economic rationalist orthodoxy, us ordinary citizens know, intuitively, that you cannot run a shop, a workshop or any heavy industry without a stable source of electricity. We also know that you cannot get to work without commuter trains running. We also know that we place our lives in danger with every taxi ride. While us mere mortals don’t travel abroad much, if at all, we know that planes belong in the air; that the public broadcaster is meant to serve as, well, a public broadcaster; the police are meant to serve and protect; our military personnel should be able to march in straight lines, and its hardware has to be up to date (you can’t have stockpiles of ammunition that is outdated); along with the police and military, the state security system ought to make us sleep better at night, and criminals need to be prosecuted – even if they are among the highest office-bearers in the ruling alliance. 

A woman walking to work is not safe. A family sitting at home watching TV is not safe. A farmer working his or her fields is not safe. The driver stopping at a red light is not safe. Do we really expect someone to invest in an existing or new industry or fund innovation if a faction of the ruling party calls for “the mass nationalisation of industries including mines, insurance companies, steel and chemical companies”? The future of work is changing, but our major union leaders, supported by barbarous professors, want our workers to stay in the bondage of assembly lines – instead of retraining them for new, more innovative means of production.

All of these represent the life world of everyday people in South Africa. Every time anyone buys a loaf of bread or a bag of oranges they comprise “the economy”. Speaking of oranges, you can return the land to “its rightful owners” and (with the help of the former white owner) farm citrus products, but if individual oranges have a fungal disease you may not be able to export your produce. That’s not a racist conspiracy. (I use this one example because I have some insights into a related domestic issues case, and about the way the World Trade Organisation works.) 

This can go on and on if we can’t guarantee: the safety of investments; a reliable stream of energy; community and personal safety; trains that run; a reliable justice system – with judges who are unimpeachable; a postal service that is functional; public servants who do the jobs they’re paid to do; teachers who teach; nurses who are paid well, and don’t sign in for one another when they want to escape parts of night duty; and if we don’t play our part, as active citizens.

The government can build schools, but parents must make sure their children attend school, and show an interest in the child’s education. The government can provide trash cans, but people must use them. Visit downtown Johannesburg and you may get a sense of how filth has built up – it’s not quite at the levels of Naples, but give it time. While we hold the state and political parties to a high standard, we need to, also, report on citizens who refuse to pay or steal electricity and water, then cry foul if they are brought to book. That, is largely, the result of ANC promises. With another election in a couple of years, do we really think the ANC, or any political party is going to tell people to pay their electricity bills or get cut off? And so, it’s not “the economy” it’s everything we do, and say, every day, that makes the economy work. 

We may have started our descent, as Malala, wrote almost six years ago; my loss of hope has deepened – helped along by #statecapture revelations. But let me turn to the observations I made in the early 1990s, with regards to the National Party:

“What has become evident, however, is that the state is collapsing bit by bit, in slow motion, while its powers of rehabilitation [are] dissipating with its political might.” 

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2021-03-15-fifteen-years-along-the-road-to-nowhere-and-the-worst-is-yet-to-come/

Submitted by TT

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex being adorably cute during a visit to the Justice Desk initiative in Nyanga township in Cape Town, South Africa.

omg another thing that has happened to me during this HOT MESS week:

So there is this guy at my work who we used to vibe so well all the time. We would talk for ages about energy and mysteries of the universe and some new age shit like he introduced me to Human Design and we would talk about how to use energy and such. He looks like an elf like he could be legolas. He has the long silvery blonde hair and like tattoos of markings on his arms and is gay and majestic looking. He would tell me about magic users and sorcerers from Lithuana (where he is from) and pagan traditions there. 

Anyway I see him after the lockdown back at work and he asks me how my time was and I was like it was good except for the first month when I got into that terrible fight with my roommate. But I told him that my friend who is a light worker stepped in to help bring healing energy and it changed her attitude 180 the next day like she apologized and everything.. And this guy was like: you are going to PAY for that! That is EVIL!! And I was like.. um wot do you mean?? I said she was a light worker like she gave us both healing energy to try and resolve it; and he was like: You do NOT change someone’s will that is EVIL! And I was like: it wasn’t will changing it was light magic. And he was like: You don’t get it, there is a way of things and you are messing with it!! You witches are gonna pay!!

So there I was, dumbstruck with my bowl of chili (it was staff food time), confused and was like, “I don’t.. understand??” Like I thought this guy was a Lithuanian magic user or witch of some kind. But apparently this was a whole new side revealed. He tried to talk to me about karma which is like a knee-jerk source of aggression cause I fucking hate how karma has been bastardized in western culture. Like I am no expert on hinduism but I took some classes on mysticism and zen buddhism which has some influences from hinduism and we read texts upon tombs of their philosophies and I did not read all that shit just for some white man to tell me that karma is some bastardized christian-influenced mysterious power of the universe to rectify right from wrong. Like I was first like: Mister... If karma truly exists please explain to me why Trump has not been struck by lightning yet? Or if you think ‘one day it will come’ when millions upon millions are dead and he shoots himself when he has no where to hide like hitler do you think that’s justice?? Like all of the innocent people that suffered and died in that time do you think Hitler’s end was brought about delayed as fuck by the universe? Cause sorry the world doesn’t work like that. For decades the earth has been polluted and ravaged and malicious people have roamed free without getting struck. Where is Europe’s karma after they destroyed and ravaged Africa? (And other parts of the world honestly not just Africa.) Also if you believe in this force of rectifying right from wrong then our actions to bring healing and light to quell a nearly violent situation in my house is justified cause honestly I was 👌🏽 this close to putting this bitch in a jar with a rotting egg and her coiled up shower drain hair. 

Karma actually is about how your choices influence your future (I think the word literally means ‘act’) and how you justify your current actions can create ripple effects to how your actions and the effects they bring will influence your future. (Examples: if you care about picking up litter in parks you could create a ripple effect where the animals there have less of a chance of getting sick by eating something synthetic or someone could notice and help you or return an act of kindness your way. Another example is if you decide to pocket something small in a store or at work. It may not be a big deal but you could justify that action in your mind and later in life try it again in another scenario and that can create a bad ripple effect if you get caught. It’s more logical than mystical). 

Anyway he was like: But how do you know your actions are ok?? And I was like: Sir, I have done both great and terrible things and NOTHING has happened to me as a result cause the universe has too many lives, timelines and planets to keep track of what is good and bad like that is all subjective. He was getting agitated but I was like: if you try it sometime you will see. He scoffed and reminded me that ‘us witches are gonna pay’ lmao. 

Anyway after that dramatic lunch period with coworkers concernedly looking on I text my witch friend who also used to work with the company and knows him (she moved to Italy cause of everything going on and she came with me to Summer Solstice at the beach) and I was like wtf is up with him?? And her being her Aries self went on a TIRADE like OMG HE NEEDS TO SHUT THE FUCK UP!! NO ONE ASKED HIM FOR HIS COLONIZING BORN AGAIN BELIEFS!! And I was like... wait.. What do you mean?? Born Again?? Turns out this guy was a BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN THE WHOLE FUCKING TIME AOFHAEFNKjhokfJLAGWHNFOAW:NFWLKA LMAOOOOOOO She was like: how did you not notice?? He literally has two big black crosses tattooed on both forearms I was like: BITCH HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW? HE ALSO GOT SYMBOLS AND HE IS GAY!! Like he literally looked like a lord of the rings elf and has some mystical markings on his body and a BOYFRIEND y’all tellin me he’s a born again christian?! LMAO (apparently he used to criticize her on the desk since she wears pentagrams so she never liked him much.)

Anyway it’s wild.. this whole time.. we’ve been talking about energy and the universe but like.. from two very different perspectives.. But somehow just never went below the surface that we never figured out what each other was 😂😂😂 

Anyway Neptune RX revealing other’s inner faiths and ripping away illusions. Everytime I see this guy at work now it’s so awkward lmao. With his Legolas-lookin’ born again gay-ass. 

Through the Years → Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (140∞)

23 September 2019 | Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex visit The Justice Desk in Cape Town, South Africa. The Justice Desk initiative teaches children about their rights and provides self-defence classes and female empowerment training to young girls in the community. (Photo by Ian Vogler - Pool/Getty Images)

five signs you’re too close to your boss | t.h.

anonymous said:

Hi may I please request a one shot of Tom with ceo au with this prompt “I’m your assistant and you just informed me that your entire family thinks we’re dating and you don’t want to let them down” please

Summary: you liked being the personal assistant of the CEO of Holland Enterprises. But sometimes you wondered if you were too close to your boss.

Pairing: CEO!Tom Holland x Assistant!Reader

Song I listened to while writing: If I can’t have you by Shawn Mendes

Author’s Note: I started out way different, and I was googling for some funny assistant/boss puns when I came across an article called ‘five signs you’re too close to your boss’ and I rewrote the whole thing. Hope I did your request justice, nonnie!

Warnings: the occasional fuck and shit

Word Count: 4k (this was not planned, I gotta be honest)

Masterlist

ONE: You call him by his first name

Balancing a tray with coffee cups, you knocked on the wooden door, waiting for a muffled ‘Come in’ before you opened the door with your elbows. You entered the room and were greeted by two men who sat across from each other at a desk.

“Good morning,” you greeted them and placed their coffees on the table. “I’ve got your latte Tom and your americano, Harrison. Mark is waiting for you in your office by the way, and the meeting with the board members has been pushed up to three pm.”

“Thank you, Y/N,” Harrison Osterfield said as he reached for his beverage, grateful for your services even though you weren’t his personal assistant.

Tom Holland, your actual boss, accepted the cup you placed in front of him and grinned. “She’s a godsend, isn’t she?”

You made an offhand gesture and ducked your head at the compliment. “I just brought you your coffee.”

“And at the same time you told me about the changes for today’s schedule. Accept the compliment, Y/N,” Tom said and you rolled your eyes fondly. You were literally just doing your job. Sometimes you really wondered what Tom would do without you.

“Alright, I better go before my assistant sends out a searching party,” Harrison sighed and got up, his coffee in his hand.

“I’ll see you later T, thanks again for the coffee Miss Y/N,” he said in a teasing tone and left the office, his dress shoes clacking against the marbled floor, leaving you and Tom alone in his office.

“Is there anything else you need me to do?” you asked your boss and he pursed his lips in thought.

“Yeah actually, I’m planning to take my mum out to lunch. Can you make a reservation at The Clink?”

“Of course. Around twelve alright for you?”

He leaned forward and clasped his hands. “That’ll work. A table by the window would be amazing.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” you nodded and Tom gave you a smile.

“Thanks, Y/N, that’s everything for now,” he told you and turned to his laptop, dismissing you wordlessly.  

You left Tom’s office and shut the door behind you, returning to your desk. Reaching for the phone, you dialed the number of the restaurant and waited for the line to connect.

“Hi, this is The Clink. You’re speaking to Lionel. What can I do for you?” a man said when he picked up the phone.

“Hi, this is Y/N, I’m calling to book a table for Tom-“ your eyes widened, before you cleared your throat. “Uh, for Mr. Holland. A table for two at noon, and preferably by the window?”

The other end of the line is silent for a few seconds before the man returned. “Table for two, at noon by the window. Got it.”

“Perfect, thank you so much,” you sighed, bidding goodbye before you hung up, leaning your face in your hands.

You’ve never realized how you always addressed your boss by calling him by his first name. It wasn’t something you did on your own, but rather a thing Tom insisted you doing when you first started this job.

You were pretty sure it wasn’t common for an assistant to call her boss by his first name. But as long as it wasn’t hurting anyone, it wasn’t a big deal.

TWO: His mother invites you along to private lunch dates.

You’ve been working on a few drafts of the invitation of the charity gala that was taking place in a couple of months, when someone approached your desk.

Looking away from your computer, you came face to face with Nikki Holland, Tom’s mother. “Oh! Mrs. Holland, hi,” you greeted her with a smile, giving her your full attention.

“You can just go right ahead, I think Tom’s still immersed in his work,” you said, gesturing to the closed office door.

“That boy is always stuck in work,” Nikki sighed with a headshake. “I’m glad you’re here to keep him from living at the office.”

You chuckled and ducked your head. “Just doing my job.”

When the door of Tom’s office opened, you and his mother lifted your heads to see him coming out, loosening the tie around his neck.

“Hi mum, have you been waiting long?” he asked and kissed her on the cheek.

“No longer than usual, honey,” Nikki sighed and he grinned, before turning to you.

“You take a break soon, okay?”

“Why don’t you come with us?” Nikki suggested and Tom looked at his mother in surprise, before nodding.

“Yeah, that sounds like a great idea.”

You shook your head, your cheeks flushed. “No, I don’t want to impose. I know you two haven’t spent that much time together. Plus I only booked a table for two.”

“I’m sure they won’t hesitate to add a chair to the table if I ask them to,” Tom pointed out with a grin and his mother smiled encouragingly at you.

“I insist. You have to eat anyways and you won’t impose, I promise.”

With narrowed eyebrows you looked between the two Hollands, who were looking at you with expectant eyes. A lunch at the Clink sounded really good right now, and Nikki was right, you did have to eat anyway.

“Fine,” you then sighed, the corners of your mouth tugging up. “I guess if my boss’ mother tells me to do something, I should do it, right?”

Tom snorted and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his pants.

“Don’t believe a word she says, mum. She never listens to me.”

“That’s because you make really dumb decisions from time to time,” you reminded him, grabbing your coat and purse. Nikki only laughed at the bickering, shaking her head fondly.

“You two can bicker over the most mundane things, it’s unbelievable.”

THREE: He asked you to be his date for charity events.

“You look lovely tonight, Y/N,” Tom whispered as the two of you entered the building, arms linked.

“You did buy this dress, you’re aware of that, right?” you asked with a raised eyebrow and he chuckled, shrugging with his shoulders.

“I know, doesn’t mean I can’t give you a compliment when it’s due, does it?”

You rolled your eyes fondly.

“I guess. Thanks for bringing me, by the way. I’ve heard really good things about this organization.”

The organization whose charity event you were attending was taking care of providing clean water for villages in South Africa and though you were glad to support this organization you weren’t a fan of the guests that used to attend these kind of events.

They were wearing expensive looking suits and dress. You didn’t really know how much the dress cost you were wearing, because Tom refused to tell you, but you were willing to bet a horse that it cost more than a 100 bucks (then again, 100 pounds probably wasn’t a lot when it came to these people).

Long story short, this wasn’t really your scene. Expensive champagne, rubbing elbows with wealthy people and tiny food portions wasn’t your style. But Tom had asked you to accompany him and it was for the good cause, right?

“I’m going to get us some champagne, I’ll be right back love,” he told you and unwrapped his arm from yours before disappearing into the crowd, leaving you all by yourself.

Slightly intimidated, you sought refuge at a vacant table and placed your clutch on it, looking around for Harrison, of whom you knew was also supposed to attend the event.

“Did I see you come in with Tom Holland?” an unfamiliar voice asked and you turned to see a blonde in a red dress looking at you.

The corners of her lips were curled upward, though the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Yes you did,” you replied, giving her a curt smile. “Why?”

She tapped her perfectly manicured fingers on the table.

“We had an nice… How should I put this delicately?” she trailed off, pursing her lips. “Encounter. And he hasn’t given me a call yet.”

You raised an eyebrow at her. What was this lady’s problem?

“If you’re trying to pick a fight, it’s not with me. I’m his assistant, not his date,” you clarified and her eyes widened slightly, before she let out a breathy laughter.

“Oh of course you are. I was wondering why he would be dating under his standard,” she chuckled and you narrowed your eyes at her, your cheeks flushing in anger.

“Excuse me?”

She smirked at you. “You can’t be surprised by this. You’re not exactly his type.”

You bristled at her insinuations and as you were about to open your mouth to rip her a new one, Tom joined you by the table with two flutes of champagne.

“Sorry that took so long, Y/N, the queue was insane,” he apologized, handing you a flute when he caught sight of the blonde, who turned her full attention to him.

“Hello Tom. Nice to see you again,” she said sweetly and you gripped your glass.

Tom gave her a polite smile, though you could tell he wasn’t too happy to see her. You were guessing that she was someone he picked up at a previous event and judging by his lack of interest, he had wanted it to leave it like that.

“Hello… Victoria, was it?”

“Veronica, actually,” Veronica pressed out through gritted teeth and you hid your smile, turning your head away.

“Right, Veronica. Sorry, must’ve slipped my mind. Did you need anything?” Tom asked and she fumed, though she raised her chin defiantly.

“Not necessarily, no. Just wanted to give the courtesy of letting you know that my father won’t be doing any business with Holland Enterprises. Have a good evening,” Veronica sneered and turned on her heel, obviously pissed off by how he was treating her.

“Wait, is she someone important?” you asked at the mention of her father and Tom shrugged, nipping on his champagne.

“She’s the daughter of Philip McAvoy.”

Your eyes widened and slapped his arm.

“McAvoy who you’ve been dying to get in contract?! Are you kidding me? That’s a big deal, why are you acting so nonchalantly about losing a huge client like that?” you hissed and Tom glanced at you, before he smirked.

“’Cause McAvoy signed the contract last night.”

You sighed in relief, shaking your head with a smile. “You’re unbelievable, Tom.”

“I am not going to let all the hard work go down the drain just because I didn’t give his darling daughter a call after an unfortunate night we spent together,” Tom smirked and you rolled your eyes at him, pulling a face.

“You’re gross.”

FOUR: He asks you to pretend to be his girlfriend in front of his family.

“You want me to do what?”

Tom sighed and rubbed a hand over his face.

“I know it sounds like a weird request-“

“No, getting you sushi at nine in the morning is a weird requests, having me pose as your girlfriend in front of your family is crazy! How did you even come up with such an idea?” you asked. You hadn’t had expected Tom to ask you that when he called you into his office.

“I didn’t! My parents just assumed we were dating because of pictures they’ve seen of us at events. Especially at the office’s Christmas party,” he explained and your cheeks grew hot.

“You know I had too much to drink!”

“I know, Y/N. And I wouldn’t be asking you this if it weren’t so important to me. Please?” He looked at you with pleading eyes, clasping his hands together as if he was begging.

You gritted your teeth and rolled your eyes, before relenting.

“… Fine. But I expect a bonus,” you warned him and he beamed at you, nodding quickly.

“Of course, whatever you want, Y/N. Thank you so much for doing this.”

Two weeks later, you and Tom were standing in front of his childhood home and you were feeling like you were going to throw up.

“You okay?” Tom asked as you walked up to the front door.

“If by okay you mean currently freaking out about lying to my boss’ family about dating him, then yeah, I’m okay,” you muttered, tucking your hair behind your ear.

“You’ll be fine. They’ve always liked you, even before they thought you were my girlfriend,” he assured you and you frowned.

“I just don’t feel comfortable lying to them.”

“Then don’t,” he replied and you scoffed. “Just, stay as close to the truth as you can. We don’t want to get entangled in a web of lies.”

Tom pressed the door bell and you could hear footsteps from the other side of the door before you felt Tom put his arm around your waist, pulling you close. You barely had the time to react before the door was pulled open and you put up a smile.

“Tom! And Y/N! I am so glad you could make it,” his mother greeted you and Tom let go of you to hug his mother.

“Hi mum, happy birthday,” he mumbled and gave her a kiss on the cheek, handing her the bouquet of flowers. You smiled shyly at her and reached out to shake her hand. “Happy birthday Mrs. Holland. Thanks for inviting me.”

“Nonsense!” Nikki replied and swatted your hand away, pulling you into a hug instead. You yelped in surprise before you hugged her back with a laugh. “And please, call me Nikki. You’re part of the family now.”

“Oh, okay,” you chuckled nervously and Tom gave you a look.

“Alright, come on in you guys, you’re the last to arrive.” Nikki ushered you inside and shut the door after you’ve stepped inside

“You go right ahead to the backyard, I’m going to put these flowers in some water,” she told you and disappeared into another room, the kitchen you presumed.

With a hand on your lower back, Tom guided you towards the backyard. You were so nervous to face his family, you couldn’t even react to the countless pictures of Tom throughout his childhood. You made a mental note to make fun of Tom later, but right now, you didn’t have the nerves to do so.

As you stepped out to the backyard, you were greeted with a sight of familiar people. You were relieved to see that it wasn’t an understatement when he told you it was ‘a family-only event’.

“Hey guys!” Tom greeted his family, waving in the round.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” one of the boys said and everyone came around to greet you.

“Guys, this is Y/N. Y/N, you know my dad, Dom, my brothers Harry, Sam and Paddy. And Haz, of course.”

Your eyes widened slightly at the blond sitting at the table nursing a beer with a knowing smirk. That little fucker. He had to know all about the stunt, you were sure that Tom had a discussion with his best friend long before asking you to come to the party. You were not looking forward to the endless teasing you had to endure at work that following week.

“Hi everyone,” you waved shyly. “Thanks for having me.”

“Are you kidding me? I can’t believe we’re finally meeting you as Tom’s girlfriend. How do you actually stand being around this div during work and in your free time?” Harry asked and you shrugged with a grin.

“Eh, it helps that he barely acts like a boss. Usually I’m the one making the important decisions,” you countered and Tom’s jaw dropped while the rest hollered out in laughter.

“Wow,” Tom said, shaking his head with a grin.

“I knew there was a reason I liked her,” Dom said and smiled brightly at you. “Someone needs to put you in your place when neither of us are around, Tom. Can I get you guys anything to drink?”

Pleased at having received his father’s approval, you ducked your head.  “A water is fine, thanks.”

“I’ll just have a beer, dad.”

Taking a seat at the table while Tom’s father poured you a glass of water, you nipped on it but not without sending a glare in Harrison’s direction, who was sitting across from you.

“Hey, where’s Tessa?” Tom wanted to know when his brother handed him a bottle of beer and Harry pointed towards the green bits of the backyard.

“She’s been digging for half an hour. Didn’t even hear you ring the bell.”

Tom took a big swing of his beer before letting out a whistle. “Tessa!” he called out and jogged towards the lawn, leaving you to fend for yourself with his family.

“So, how long have you guys been dating?” Sam asked as soon as Tom was out of earshot. You blushed a bit, and shrugged with your shoulders.

You internally cursed when Tom’s mother joined you, hoping you wouldn’t say anything that would make them suspicious.

“A couple months, give or take? I’m not too sure about it,” you replied, keeping it as vague as you could.

“I’m really glad you guys got together,” Nikki said and you looked at her in surprise. “He always looked at you like you hung the stars, it was really obvious that he fancied you.”

“Yeah, it was nauseating,” Harrison piped up and hid his grin behind his beer bottle while you narrowed your eyes at him. You weren’t sure if he was messing with you or not.

“You guys should have seen them at the office Christmas party. He was smitten,” he told Tom’s family, wincing when you kicked him in the shins.

“Oh we’ve seen pictures. That was why we pestered Tom about her and he admitted that you’ve been dating on the downlow,” Paddy said. “Though I don’t understand why he would keep that from us. He knows we’ve always liked you.”

“I think he was probably worried about what people would think if they found out he was dating his assistant,” you explained, defending Tom. You didn’t want his family to resent him for keeping a relationship from them if it wasn’t even a real one.

“What are we talking about?” Tom asked when he returned with Tessa by his side.

“About you being head over heels for Y/N, and not telling us you were dating until we asked you,” Harry teased and his older brother flushed.

“Well, I should be head over heels for her, she’s my girlfriend,” he pointed out and you opted out of the conversation by turning your attention to Tessa who sniffed curiously at your hands. She was the only member of his family you hadn’t met yet. You know, considering she was a dog she wasn’t really allowed into the office.

“Hi pretty girl,” you cooed to her, scratching her behind her ears. Tessa yapped and wagged enthusiastically with her tail, bumping your hand with her snout.

“She likes you,” Tom told you quietly, suddenly standing by your side. You glanced up at him before you returned your eyes to the Staffordshire.

“Everyone in your family likes me,” you pointed out and he gave you a look, crouching down next to you to pet Tessa.

“Maybe a little too much. I can’t believe you made fun of me with them,” Tom muttered and you snorted, rolling your eyes at him.

“Don’t be a baby,” you teased him and he looked at you with a soft smile. You’ve never noticed how much his eyes crinkled when he does that. And did he get more freckles on his nose?

“Jesus, you two are way worse in real life,” Sam commented and the two of you broke apart flushing. You hadn’t even realized how close you’ve been standing.

“See what I have to deal with at work every day?” Harrison joked and you and Tom glared at him.

“Shut up Haz.”

The rest of the evening passed in a blur, between having dinner, getting to know Tom’s family better and them teasing you and Tom mercilessly.

Their jokes got you thinking about the relationship you had with him. The work relationship, that is. You knew that you two were very close, maybe even closer than an assistant and their superior usually are. Sometimes you wondered if it bordered the line of being inappropriate, considering all they’ve been saying was somewhat true.

You found him very attractive and you liked him a lot. Even though he was in a higher position than you were (obviously, since you were his assistant) he still treated you with respect.

And since you were only human, you sometimes wondered what it would feel like to be by his side as something else than his assistant. Admittedly, you had a small crush on him. But who wouldn’t, right? A successful businessman, CEO of his own company, he achieved all of that in his twenties and he looked like that.

But you’ve always respected the boundary that was between you and him, allowing yourself the daydream now and then, but nothing more. But you never knew or even asked yourself, what he was thinking.

You knew about his occasional hook-ups, including Victoria McAvoy. But you’ve never heard of a serious girlfriend. At first, you’ve thought it was due to his busy schedule and the fact that he always threw himself in his work.

Now however, you weren’t too sure about it anymore.

It was later that night, when Tom was taking you home in his car. A comfortable silence was settled over you and you were leaning your head on the window.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” you suddenly said and he glanced over at you before turning his attention back to the street.

“Yeah of course, what is it?”

“Do you like me?” you blurted out and he swerved the car, cursing.

“Shit, Y/N, you can’t just ask me something like that!” he yelled and you stared at him, frowning.

“Why the tell not?”

Tom groaned and shook his head, pulling over. Turning the car off, he ran his hand through his hair before turning to look at you.

“Well?” you asked impatiently, narrowing your eyes.

He sighed. “I do like you,” he admitted and your eyes widened. You did not expect that.

“I didn’t want it to be weird for you, because I’m your boss and I don’t want you to feel like you’re obligated to date me, if you don’t like me back? I don’t know. It feels weird to have this kind of power over you which I don’t want to abuse that?” Tom groaned, hiding his face in his hands. “I guess I did pressure you into pretending to be my girlfriend in front of my family, but I promise I didn’t do it to make-“

Before Tom could continue to ramble on, you had dragged him by his shirt and put your lips on his, effectively shutting him up.

“Oh,” he sighed softly against your lips, his own curling into a grin.

FIVE: You almost fall off the bed at night.

You were still tired when you woke up, and judging by the darkness in the bedroom, it wasn’t time to get up just yet. Stifling a yawn, you reached for your phone that was charging on the nightstand to check the time, nearly blinding yourself by the brightness of the screen.

2:17 am

With a groan, you put the phone back down and wondered why the hell you woke up, when a nudge in your waist almost sent you falling off the bed.

Right.

Even though you’ve fallen asleep at your respective sides of the bed, Tom had somehow managed to sneak all the way over to your side and wriggled himself into your body, pushing you to the edge of the bed.

“Tom,” you hissed, jabbing him ribs.

“Wha-?” he murmured out, cracking an eye open just to frown at you.

“Don’t give me that face! What did I tell you about scooting all the way up in my space!”

His eyes fluttered close and he wrapped his arms around your waist.

“You’re comfy,” Tom mumbled and you sighed, shoving him a few inches away from you.

“You could pull me in your arms instead of pushing me off the edge,” you pointed out and snuggled up against him, smiling when he settled his head atop of yours.

“Shhh, sleep time now,” he said sleepily and you rolled your eyes, before shutting them to get some more sleep.

You really were way too close to your boss.

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